CALEDON, Ont. — A sign reading "Work in Progress. Do Not Disturb" would be fitting for Sudarshan Yellamaraju's golf bag, though the PGA Tour rookie may need the space for new sponsors given his performance at the RBC Canadian Open.
Strong Performance at TPC Toronto
After shooting six-under 65 on Saturday, Canada's rising golf star heads into the final round firmly in contention at TPC Toronto. He is the top Canadian at 10-under par, tied for seventh and three shots behind leader Jackson Suber.
"I've always thought I could be in contention in tournaments, for sure. That's what I've been working for, that's what I've been dreaming of doing, but it's just a matter of doing it, of course," Yellamaraju said after his round. "It didn't feel really unusual, I've been in this position before, maybe not on the PGA Tour, but in this position before."
Workmanlike Attitude on the Course
The workmanlike attitude and matter-of-fact explanations for his remarkable rookie season offer insight into the personality of a young man who increasingly appears to be the brightest light of Canada's next generation of golfers.
With a Canadian contingent including 2023 champion Nick Taylor, Corey Conners, Taylor Pendrith, and other household names, Yellamaraju emerging as the headliner might seem unlikely, but he has been the top Canadian on tour all year, entering the week 48th in the FedEx Cup standings.
A Unique Origin Story
For most golf fans, the 24-year-old appeared on their radar with his T5 finish at the Players Championship in March. His origin story captivated the community: moving from India to Canada at age four and learning the game by watching YouTube videos and hitting balls in a Winnipeg golf dome.
Yellamaraju has been asked about his story repeatedly and seems to prefer that people read about it online rather than go over the details again.
His family moved to Mississauga when he was seven for better access to golf facilities and his father's job. Many on site this week have done their homework. "A lot of people saying, 'Go Mississauga' and all that, so that was pretty cool, for sure," he said after his first round.
Excitement ramped up on Saturday as crowds grew and he climbed the leaderboard. "I heard it. I was just trying to focus as much as I could, like I always do," he said. "But I was definitely hearing it out there and it felt good, for sure."
A Self-Taught Golfer
Yellamaraju is a self-taught golfer who has never had a single lesson. He learned the game with his non-golf-playing father in an unorthodox way. For him, it is another step in a game of trial and error he has played his entire life.
"Honestly, I'm so focused on what I'm doing," he said when asked if he is aware his play could inspire local kids. "I've been just trying to do the best that I can. I think this year I've kind of learned that it is a little bit of, when I'm doing well, I am inspiring others, so it is kind of cool to see. But like I said, I'm just trying to play the best I can. If I'm able to inspire others, then that's awesome."
Constantly Trying to Improve
Pros are notoriously hard on themselves, and Yellamaraju's mind often wanders to what was missing on any given day. After his opening round one-under 69, he noted, "Obviously I made a few too many mistakes and that's kind of been the case this year when I think my good rounds have had a lot of birdies and fewer mistakes, and my OK rounds just kind of still have a lot of birdies, but a few too many mistakes." He followed up with scores of 66 and 65.
His golfing mind is like an AI machine exposed to valuable data week-to-week as he constantly improves. Since his PGA Tour debut at the RBC Canadian Open last year with no status, much has changed. "I would say it has felt a little bit longer (than a year), for sure. I've learned a lot," he said. "I played a lot of tough golf courses in the meantime and a lot more PGA Tour events. I played with a lot of good players, and just learned a lot of things."
A problem-solving perfectionist could describe many top golfers, but Yellamaraju is not interested in swing data or perfecting his move on the driving range. There is no coach to pore over video. For him, golf is learned on the course, where you are lucky to get a handful of shots on perfectly flat grass. When he practices, it is learning different shots and putting himself in unique situations.
Can you be a throwback player if you learned the game from YouTube? "Each person's different," he said. "It may not be the most conventional way, but I kind of figure it out."
